Durbin Announces Nominees for Service Academies
SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the names of young men and women whom he has nominated to attend four of the nation’s service academies.
“I am again honored to nominate some of the best and brightest young men and women from all across Illinois to attend our nation’s service academies,” Durbin said. “These individuals are the leaders of tomorrow, and I have no doubt that they will make their families and their country proud.”
The academies include U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Everyone who wishes to attend a service academy must secure a nomination from one of a few sources, including a U.S. Senator. Prospective students at the service academies must apply for a nomination and demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and good moral character.
U.S. Senators are allowed a maximum of five appointees at a given service academy at any time—except for the Merchant Marine Academy, which is based on a state quota. Senator Durbin is allowed to nominate 10 candidates for each vacancy and does so by selecting nominees for admission on a competitive basis. The service academies will each choose one nominee for each vacancy and offer him or her an appointment.
While each member of Congress is only guaranteed their annual allotment of appointments, it is general practice that the service academies will also consider the remaining applicants for appointment outside the congressional quota, depending on student qualifications and class size. In previous years the academies have accepted significant numbers of Durbin’s nominees because of their superior qualifications.
The nominees were chosen by Durbin’s Service Academy Selection Committee, a nonpartisan board that meets annually in December to review applicants.
Senator Durbin’s nominees and their hometowns are as follows:
MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT (two vacancies)
Samantha N. Burger, Lincolnshire, daughter of John and Maria Burger
Hollis E. Clark, Hinsdale, daughter of Kerstin and Walter Clark
Danielle Cross, Normal, daughter of John and Laura Cross
Justin D. Funk, Tower Lakes, son of Darrin and Carrie Funk
Therese A. Hein, Geneva, daughter of Jennifer and John Hein
William Hogan, Darien, son of Patrick and Sue Hogan
Joseph P. Imburgia, Lockport, son of Steven and Maria Imburgia
Alec E. Jacobs, S. Barrington, son of David and Connie Jacobs
Phillip M. Koenig, Crystal Lake, son of Mark and Christy Koenig
William Kuhl, Elmhurst, son of William and Janene Kuhl
Evan W. Lee, Romeoville, son of Eric and Karen Lee
Simon J. Lee, Skokie, son of Henry and Sylvia Lee
Brennan M. O’Brien, New Lenox, son of Wendi and Mark O’Brien
Martin Ocampo, Chicago, son of Martin and Maria Ocampo
Jan V. Ondrejcek, Urbana, son of Zuzana Ruziakova and Michael Ondrejcek
Thomas J. Spencer, Roselle, son of Scott and Katherine Spencer
Jake Tencza, Frankfort, son of Julie and Brian Tencza
Matthew R. Weiler, LaGrange Park, son of Kevin and Jennifer Weiler
Micah Weiss, Sherman, son of Thomas and Christie Wiess
Ethan C. Williams, Aurora, son of Edward and Jeanette Williams
AIR FORCE ACADEMY (one vacancy)
Mackenzie Adkins, Geneva, daughter of Jacqueline Walker-Adkins and Douglas Adkins
Jared Bachman, Mokena, son of Robert and Karen Bachman
Nicholas Baumel, Western Springs, son of Michael and Maria Baumel
Zenen Caredenas, West Chicago, son of Zenen Cardenas and Carrie Vose
Brian M. D’Souza, Lisle, son of Mark D’Souza and Sudha Srinivas
Brett Jones, Roscoe, son of Greg and LeAnn Jones
Ethan Macklin, Findlay, son of Craig and Lana Macklin
James Stefo, Antioch, son of James S. Stefo Jr. and Lucia F. Soberano-Stefo
Keelie R. Stork, Jerseyville, daughter of Kevin and Michelle Stork
Felix Zheng, Naperville, son of Jinsong Zheng and King Chung
NAVAL ACADEMY (two vacancies)
Allison Early, Willowbrook, daughter of Chris and Gina Early
Paul Eichamer, Naperville, son of Paul and Katherine Eichamer
Jack Gelinas, Lake Zurich, son of Jennifer and Matthew Gelinas
Jamir W. Gibson, Waukegan, son of Willie Gibson and Tanika Strausder
Collin Henderson, Trenton, son of Henry and Laurie Henderson
Noah S. Herdman, Naperville, son of Robert and Amy Herdman
Jake Karczewski, Chicago, son of Mike Karczewski and Glynis Thilleman
Elizabeth Lowery, Darien, daughter of Steven and Laura Lowery
Hope McMullen, Park Ridge, daughter of Joseph and Nancy McMullen
Sarah L. Messerschmidt, Tower Lakes, daughter of John and Christine Messerschmidt
Merrick S. Misiewicz, Shannon, son of Michael and Marcy Misiewicz
Trey Morse, Sterling, son of Dustin and Stacey Morse
Victoria Mueller, Johnston City, daughter of Tony and Cynthia Edwards
Paul R. Oelkers, Edelstein, son of Phil and Laurie Oelkers
David J. Petrovich, Arlington Heights, son of John and Diane Petrovich
Ryan A. Poggenpohl, Raymond, son of Allen and Rebecca Poggenpohl
Thomas L. Shen, Naperville, son of Tim Shen and Tammy Lung
Shannon A. Steines, Arlington Heights, daughter of Randy and Meghan Steines
Alexander Stensland, Chicago, son of Michael and Marie Stensland
Matthew M. Tungett, Rochester, son of Michael and Michele Tungett
MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY
Frank Harris, Chicago, son of Frank Harris and Lisa Sapienza
Lauren C. Hunter, Tinley Park, daughter of Thia and Brian Hunter
Keith Mokry, Somonauk, son of William and Mary Mokry
Austin Vincent, Stockton, son of Todd and Tonya Vincent
Christopher R. Welsh, Bolingbrook, son of Brian and Michele Welsh
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